Bowling ball or the like



Nov. 7, 1944. H. w. HALL 2,362,269

BOWLING BALL OR THE LIKE Filed May 6, 1942 Fly. 3

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to bowling balls and the like.

One important object of my invention is to constructs. bowling ballhaving an outside surface that is able to withstand the shocks the ballis subjected to in bowling games. An accompanying object is to provide aconstruction that uses materials which are relatively inexpensive andplentiful, and can be varied sufflciently to attain the desired weightin the ball. A further object is to provide a construction which, incontrast to the relatively hard and heavy outside surface portion, hasan adjoining interior portion that is lighter and more cushion-like,thereby providing resilience and tone in the ball.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawingand specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render itsusceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I amnot to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all suchchanges therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a laminated block out of which thebowling ball, indicated by dot and dash lines, is formed.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a ball shaped from the block shownin Figure 1, before it is impregnated with resin.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a bowling ball taken on the lines3-3 of Figure 4, to show the holes made and the material within theinterior of the ball that adds to its weight.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line l4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a bowling ball of modifiedconstruction.

As illustrated, I form a rectangular block B Ill by uniting together aplurality of wood laminations III, which are shown cross-banded inFigure 1 of the drawing. This block B could be made of considerablelength to make several balls from it if desired, and could be made fromone solid piece instead of laminations. Said lamina weight over what thewood laminations normally would weigh, and to accomplish this I drillholes 20 in said ball at approximately right angles to each other. Theseholes preferably extend beyond the center of the ball, as shown, apredetermined distance, depending upon the additional weight desired inthe ball, material used in increasing the weight, and to balance anyfinger holes so that the ball'will roll true, etc. I have shown threesuch holes 20; but the number could be varied so long as they are solocated that the ball will be evenly balanced.

I then pour lead or other filler 2| into said holes, which filleraccumulates at the center portion of the ball and preferably extends thesame distance in said holes from the center point of said ball tobalance weight proportionately. The lead may be heated to its meltingpoint and poured therein if the weight of the ball is to be greatlyincreased; but for a lighter weight ball sand or other filler may beused, or lead mixed with a lighter filler. Sand has the advantage thatthe air space between will absorb any excess moisture from the wood.Said holes 20 could first be dusted with potassium salt to help absorbany moisture, and then the lead filler poured in. Said holes arethereafter filled with plugs 22 that ordinarily extend from a point evenwith the outside surface of the ball inwardly. Said plugs shouldpreferably be of the same material as that in which the holes weredrilled, or its equivalent.

In bowling balls that are provided with finger holes, one or two of saidholes 20 may be used for that purpose, in which event said plug 22 wouldnot extend from the outside surface.

In place of wood laminations other cellulosic material may be used.

I have now attained the approximate weight, but not the exact weightdesired in the finished ball; and it is oversize. The outside surfaceportion 25 is not sufficiently hard to withstand the shocks normallyencountered in bowling. The next step is to impregnate the outer portionof said ball with a plasticizer such as resin solution 26 consisting ofphenol formaldehyde and water. Said ball is immersed in said solutionfor a sumcient length of time for it to penetrate /4 to V. inch in fromthe outer surface or any other predetermined depth. This will takeapproximately two to five hours depending upon the extent of saturationdesired and the density of the wood or other cellulosic material theball is made of. The temperature of the solution need not behigher thandegrees F. In place of phenol formaldehyde other plasticizing materialor resin may be used such as terpin-hydrate, or urea formaldehyde andthe like.

Thereafter the ball I5 is left to dry for a day or two, preferably in anatmosphere of 60 to 70% humidity and at a temperature not to eXceed 140degrees F. so as to prevent prehardening. When the water has evaporatedso the cells are filled with the plasticizer it is ready for heating,compressing and hardening.

This is done with phenol formaldehyde at temperatures of 300 to 350degrees F. and pressure of approximately 250 pounds per square inch.

Pressed between two one-half globular iron shells the plasticizedportion of the cellulosic material will be compressed by this pressureso that the ball takes its final size, having previously been madelarger to allow for this reduction resulting from compressing the cellsof the periphery so that they are solid. The hardened resin and the cellwalls are thus plasticized into a homogeneous solid outer portionconsisting of hardened resin filled cells and plasticized and hardenedwood fibers that are impervious to water and heat and sufliciently hardto stand the pounding they are subject to.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 5 of the drawing a centerportion 28 is formed of lead, cement or other material of the desiredweight. The main body 29 is made of loose cellulosic material such assawdust, sugar cane, etc. mixed with a binding agent such as urea resin,and molded to a predetermined size around said center portion 28.Thereafter the outer surface portion is impregnated with said solution,treated and compressed as. previously described.

What I claim:

1. A bowling ball or the like comprising a continuous laminated woodenstructure forming the interior and exterior thereof, the wood in theouter surface portion of said ball embodying resin and being incompressed condition and harder than the adjoining interior portionthereof.

2. A bowling ball or the like comprising a plurality of wood laminationsunited together and forming the interior and exterior thereof, the outersurface portion of said ball embodying resin and being in compressedcondition and harder and denser than the adjoining interior portionthereof, the latter portion not embodying resin.

3. A bowling ball or the like comprising a continuous laminated woodenstructure forming the interior and exterior thereof, the outer surface!portion of said ball embodying a chemical converting agent and being incompressed condition' and harder than the adjoining interior portion Ithereof.

the whole interior portion thereof.

HORACE W. HAIL.

